ddcha

The only other 3-row SUV I've ever seriously considered was the Acadia Denali. More interior room with similar sized exterior, better NAV, and lower price were the attraction. But I never could convince myself to appreciate its looks, interior materials were cheap, and the power was lacking.

But behold the 2013 Acadia Denali....
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...o-gallery.html

Thoughts???

aggst1

IMO any GM made SUV drives and behaves like a truck. The GL doesn't. Simply the are in a different league

ddcha

acadia is a crossover though. Doesnt drive like a yukon or a truck.

Fourdiesel

If it isn't offered with a diesel, it isn't worth wasting time considering.

aggst1

You are correct. I was mistakenly talking about the Yukon. I didn't mean to be negative towards GM or anything. The Acadia is simply in a different category from the GL. Doesn't have the level of refinement, sound proofing, and most of all the road manners and overall driving experience that come with Benz. The Cadillac Escalade would be a more fair competitor.

mdadgar

The Escalade? You're kidding, right? That truly IS a truck and man, it's nowhere near the same league as the GL. Unless you're going strictly by price.

- Mark, sold an Escalade ESV to buy the GL350

aggst1

I didn't say I pick the Escalade over the Benz. What I said is that the Escalade and the GL are at the same category (luxury SUV) so it is fair game to compare them. Comparing the GMC to a Benz is like comparing a VW product to a Benz. Different products covering needs of two different segments.

ddcha

I don't agree. I give you the sound-proofing, interior materals and seats. But the navigation is an abomination and the "road manners" are not much to write home about. Test drive an Acadia and you'll see. Also, test drive an X5, which handles much better than the bouncy body rolling GL. Let's not make Mercedes something it's not. I love its looks, quality interior, and power. Things I found to be lame: HIDs not standard, heated steering wheel was not an option my year, spotty reliability, sloppy road manners.

Oh, and I'd definitly compare the current Touareg to the ML for example. If you didn't see the labels, I'm sure you would agree that they are at equal levels for comparison.

aggst1

The GL having airmatic suspension does not have the body roll expected from a large and tall SUV. You can take a highway exit at high speeds and the car will handle it without wobbling since the airmatic compensates. The interior is excellent, even with vinyl seats. The interior of the Acadia lacks taste and elegance. The navigation is not as user friendly as it could be but the voice activation makes up for some of that. The Benz has many more safety features (pre safe comes to mind). HIDS are not standard but available. Same with heated steering. If they were standard the base price would be higher. If you are saying they should reduce the cost all together that's a different discussion. But even if we compare a stripped down GL with stripped down Acadia the Benz wins. I m not making the Benz something is not. No other car drives like the tank that it is.

Again if you are wondering if it is worth spending an extra 30 grand for a GL this is a different topic.

giffie

They are re-using old parts from the discontinued Saturn Outlook...
http://blog.caranddriver.com/2013-gm...ago-auto-show/

ddcha

Ze Germanz have brainwashed you. Don't get me wrong. I love my GL. But I'd try a GMC vehicle, but has to be the Denali line...

ddcha

I didn't know that. But the back sure is ugly still....

mbmama

Why you guys even compare GL with GMC Acadia. Acadia is an American Junk. All the bells and whistles you get in your 70K GL you have to spend at least 55k to get in the GMC and nobody and I mean NOBODY would want to spend 55k on American junk.

ddcha

American cars are not junk. Chinese cars are junk.

Brocktoon

I don't blame you, I cross-shopped the Acadia as well. I think the steering feel and general overall performance, especially brakes, really let it down. The brakes, I just knew they were undersized, and would turn into potato chips right away. They were scary as it was, and I pull a trailer, too.

My wife really liked the walk-through to the rear seats, that is far better than the GL setup.

Had the Borrego been out, I likely would have looked at that, too. Lots of good cars out there, and I'm far past needing to impress anyone with what I drive. The diesel GL just happened to be the best argument for a seven seat vehicle when I was shopping. Another time, I could have wound up with an Acadia, Armada, LX 570...

I think the Infinity JX will be the new class killer, at least until we see the new GL.

http://www.infinitiusa.com/all-new-jx/reserve/

aggst1

Isn't the JX a crossover? How can it be a large luxury class killer?

aggst1

I second that. I don't have a problem with American cars at all. I drive a 2012 Chevy Malibu as my daily driver. It was handed to me by my company and so far I am impressed with it. Nice car for its price range. Sure there are 20 things I would change but it does what it is supposed to quite well.

aggst1

Ok, just to prove to myself that I m not brainwashed I will stop at a dealer close to my house at some point and look at the Denali line. Maybe I was a fool spending all kinds of $ on a GL and I could have a better car for $40 K ...

Brocktoon

It's a 7 seat unibody truck, just like your GL. So is a Jeep Commander. Crossover, too? These are useless appellations.

mbmama

chines cars are junk but they charge you junk car prices, American cars are junk but they expect you to pay German car prices.
American cars can probably take you from point A to B but if you are savvy of driving pleasure you don't want to spend a dime on American vehicles (JUNK)

hyperion667

I just wanted to say your sweep the leg picture is awesome, haha


and, nah, that denali sux, lol

43221B

+1

The GL weighs almost a half ton more than the Acadia and has a towing capacity that is about 44% greater. They really are in two completely different categories. Comparing the cost of the two or handling isn't really fair. I would be surprised though if the Acadia handles as well as the GL on the freeway.

A better comparison might be a Chrysler Town and Country. Its curb weight is within 2 lbs of the Acadia.

aggst1

Really? Just because it has unibody construction and seats 7 it can be compared to any other vehicle that has these attributes? Wow! I guess you are ignoring differences in handling, height, off road abilities, clearance etc.

If you want to compare the JX with any Benz it will be the R class. There is a reason MB called the R class back in 2004 when they first unveiled it a sports tourer. You can cruise for 16 hours with minimal stops and not be very tired. It's designed for long drives. It drives more like car. GL drives more like a SUV and directly competes with QX. Plain and simple. Much more than appellations.

Texas993

Oh my, that Infiniti JX is even uglier than the QX. I didn't think that was possible.

aggst1

+1. That's what happens when two of the world's ugliest car makers (Nissan and Renault) join forces...